Use of Stovetop Grill Pans

Stovetop grill pans come in all sizes, and they are compatible with all types of stovetops. Use them on gas or electric burners, as well as flattop cooking surfaces. Grill pans are useful for any kind of grilling, although they take some getting used to for different types of food. Use a stovetop grill pan all through the year whenever you want great grilled food.

What to Purchase

Buy a heavy-duty stovetop grill pan. Cast-iron products are best. Some grill pans are a cheap metal covered with some type of laminate that starts to come off after only a few uses. Investing in good quality may be a little more expensive, but it is definitely worth the money.

Meats

Grill all kinds of meat on your stovetop grill pan such as chicken breasts, hamburgers, hot dogs, pork chops and, of course, steak. Marinate your meat whatever way you choose. One of the keys to cooking on a stovetop grill pan is to not turn your burners up too high. A grill pan that is too hot will burn the outside of your food and not thoroughly cook the inside. Start at a medium heat. Allow the grill to heat up before putting your meat on the grill. Let most meat set for a few minutes before trying to move it. Trying to move meat before it is ready will cause the meat to tear apart. Practice cooking on your stovetop grill pan to get the right temperatures for your meat. Remember, if you're cooking on separate burners, there will be a cooler spot in the middle of the grill pan. Move your meat around accordingly.

Sandwiches

Stovetop grill pans are great for making hot sandwiches called paninis. Paninis are essentially grilled sandwiches. To make a panini, buy heavy bread. Don't use regular sandwich bread, because it won't hold up to the heat of the grill pan or the flipping. Butter the outside of one slice of bread and place it on the grill. Fill your sandwich with whatever meat, cheese and vegetables you like. Butter the outside of another piece of bread and place this on top of your sandwich. Flip the sandwich. The time it takes depends on how hot your gill is and the size of your sandwich. Put a small cast-iron frying pan on top of your sandwich to help it cook and get good grill marks, but make sure the bottom of the frying pan is perfectly clean. Remove the sandwich from the grill, cut it in half and enjoy eating.